The PARTY

We had her party on Sunday, May 22

from 2-4

at the "purple park" in Joplin. 

It was a beautiful day.

And I had no idea what the evening would bring.

but I will write about the joy of that day.

She was so proud to hold her thumb down and extent those four fingers.

Our baby girl.

She is a fan or Strawberry Shortcake

 Her cupcake tower donned red, green and of course, pink sweet treats

with a few little figurines

and four pink candles

The green and red cupcakes weren't exactly the shade I asked for

but everyone had a great time making a mess with the icing

ben and cousin A

Gpa Mickey

Poppy

It was windy and nearly impossible to light the candles

but Dad-O got it done.

We sang "happy birthday to you"

and then she blew

She opened her gifts

and with each tear of the paper she put on a show

proudly posing with each gift and thanking her guests profusely for her "favorite fring in da ho wide wurld"

She worked the crowd of friends that came to help her celebrate her day

being sure to make everyone feel appreciated for their attendance.

My sweet girl's FOURTH birthday party!

small

This is the sanctuary my family worshipped in on Sunday morning

Where my son graduated from pre-school last Thursday evening

Where my kids stood on stage for Christmas programs

This is the place that has helped our kids to attend school 

during this unsettling last six months our lives.

Our church home

My sweet babies' school

a place where we seek solace on Sunday morning

a place that welcomed us with open arms when we moved back

where we saw so many smiling faces pass us by in the halls

Now the halls are open air

church family is unaccounted for

My son wants to know where "C" is who he knows lives three houses from the school where, as far as we know, is leveled

Last night, as we watched Strawberry Shortcake and 

played with Em's new birthday toys in the basement

We had no idea that the world outside our window was forever changing

This will be the "where were you?" moment for the rest of my life as well and my children's lives.

But lives we have to continue, stories we have to tell.

Not all are so blessed.

We already know a few that left this life yesterday

and many who lost everything

And tonight I feel so helpless

so small

but I am reminded 

that even though I feel small

as long as I am doing something, even if it is small

all can get through this.

I am reminded of this by my "smalls"

Wanting to donate his favorite legos to a friend's son

asking "Is one set enough?" concerned for him to only have one toy.

And my girl asking if he has sisters that need toys, offering a basket of toys {including a few from her birthday party yesterday}

And my sweet boy with the biggest heart showing Dad-o that he knows how to help rebuild, illustrating by ripping up a package from a toy and taping it back together.

So we will follow our small's lead

and we will do small things for all we can.

We are praying for all tonight

God be with you and yours.

graduation

Looking back

I get a lump in my throat

that is impossible to swallow.

So I will write about tonight

and not dwell too long on the thoughts of baby Ben....

sweet baby Ben.

Tonight was a milestone evening

five years

and just like that

B graduated from Pre-school this evening

he goes to Kindergarten in the fall

Baby Ben goes to Kindergarten.....

sweet baby Ben

We all wore our Sunday best

B sported a tie for the first time

He walked into my bedroom after Dad-O helped him get dressed

and I could not believe how old he looked

My baby Boy

He danced his little heart out

sang at the top of his lungs

we were so proud

of our

 sweet baby boy

he walked on stage with his brown leather shoe untied

smirked at the crowd while Miss Collisha tied it back up

and proclaimed 

"A CONDUCTOR"

after receiving his medal and being asked

"what do you want to be when you grow up?"

Our baby boy gave his unique answer to the crowd

sharing his thoughts on his future

not mocking what others said

proving to us

yet again

he is one in a million

our baby boy

and our little miss joined him

cheering him on from the audience

responding so preciously and patiently to

"it's B's night tonight, yours will come"

And it was his night

our baby boy's night

Happy Graduation Baby Boy Benjamin

summer splash

In this house, we are looking forward to more days like this ONE day we had a few weeks ago. WHERE is the warm weather???

A lot is going on nowadays in this family of four, and tonight I do not much feel like writing about it, 

but just wanted to say, we are still around, 

and still hopeful

that life will feel "normal" again soon.

And part of our "normal" will be

SUMMER!

Pinkalicious

On their way to the Pinkalicious party! I have no idea what that means, but I'm sure I will know ALL about it when they return!

Thanks MiMi for the invite, the lovely outfit, and the precious time with my cousin!!!